For ever

For ever
For For, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f["u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f["o]r, Dan. for, adv. f["o]r, Goth. fa['u]r, fa['u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra-. [root] 202. Cf. {Fore}, {First}, {Foremost}, {Forth}, {Pro}-.] In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place. [1913 Webster]

1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done. [1913 Webster]

With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

How to choose dogs for scent or speed. --Waller. [1913 Webster]

Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for C[ae]sar's health. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done. [1913 Webster]

The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Shall I think the worls was made for one, And men are born for kings, as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured? --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

For he writes not for money, nor for praise. --Denham. [1913 Webster]

3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against. [1913 Webster]

We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. --2 Cor. xiii. 8. [1913 Webster]

It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]

Aristotle is for poetical justice. --Dennis. [1913 Webster]

4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ?ntending to go to. [1913 Webster]

We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of. [1913 Webster]

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. --Ex. xxi. 23, 24. [1913 Webster]

6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being. [1913 Webster]

We take a falling meteor for a star. --Cowley. [1913 Webster]

If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru?? --Locke. [1913 Webster]

Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

But let her go for an ungrateful woman. --Philips. [1913 Webster]

7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc. [1913 Webster]

The writer will do what she please for all me. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]

God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene. --Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster]

For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of. [1913 Webster]

For many miles about There 's scarce a bush. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing. --prior. [1913 Webster]

To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day. --Garth. [1913 Webster]

9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

{For}, or {As for}, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently. See under {As}. [1913 Webster]

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. --Josh. xxiv. 15. [1913 Webster]

For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend. --Dryden.

{For all that}, notwithstanding; in spite of.

{For all the world}, wholly; exactly. ``Whose posy was, for all the world, like cutlers' poetry.'' --Shak.

{For as much as}, or {Forasmuch as}, in consideration that; seeing that; since.

{For by}. See {Forby}, adv.

{For ever}, eternally; at all times. See {Forever}.

{For me}, or {For all me}, as far as regards me.

{For my life}, or {For the life of me}, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook.

{For that}, {For the reason that}, because; since. [Obs.] ``For that I love your daughter.'' --Shak.

{For thy}, or {Forthy} [AS. for[eth][=y].], for this; on this account. [Obs.] ``Thomalin, have no care for thy.'' --Spenser.

{For to}, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- ``What went ye out for to see?'' --Luke vii. 25. See {To}, prep., 4.

{O for}, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically expressing desire or prayer. ``O for a muse of fire.'' --Shak.

{Were it not for}, or {If it were not for}, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. ``Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will.'' --Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • For ever — Ever Ev eradv. [OE. ever, [ae]fre, AS. [ae]fre; perh. akin to AS. [=a] always. Cf. {Aye}, {Age},{Evry}, {Never}.] [Sometimes contracted into {e er}.] 1. At any time; at any period or point of time. [1913 Webster] No man ever yet hated his own… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • for ever — for ever, forever This is written as two separate words in BrE (but often as one word in AmE) when the meaning is ‘for all future time’ (He said he would love her for ever) and as one word when the meaning is ‘always, continually’ (They are… …   Modern English usage

  • For ever — (engl., spr. eww r), für (auf) immer …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • For ever — (engl., spr. eww r), für immer, auf ewig …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • for ever — used for saying that a situation will always continue in the future, or will continue for a very long time It looks as though we re stuck here for ever – the road s still blocked. for ever and ever: Let s just have it as a secret between us for… …   English dictionary

  • For ever and a day — Ever Ev eradv. [OE. ever, [ae]fre, AS. [ae]fre; perh. akin to AS. [=a] always. Cf. {Aye}, {Age},{Evry}, {Never}.] [Sometimes contracted into {e er}.] 1. At any time; at any period or point of time. [1913 Webster] No man ever yet hated his own… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • for ever and ever — for ever (and ever) : ↑forever I ll love you for ever and ever! • • • Main Entry: ↑ever for ever (and ever) see ↑ever • • • Main Entry: ↑for …   Useful english dictionary

  • for ever and aye — for aye or for ever and aye For ever, to all eternity • • • Main Entry: ↑aye …   Useful english dictionary

  • for ever and ever — index now and forever Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • for ever — for ev·er || fÉ™ revÉ™(r) eternally, endlessly, for always, at all times …   English contemporary dictionary

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